Forever here with You

Hey guys I always thought the Eli/Nin pair was really well done and I decided to make a fanfiction of it. Read review and offer any encouragement or constructive criticism! Enjoy 

Chapter One: Formalities

Autumn came to the kingdom of Pharae bringing with it the falling of leaves and the cool frigid air, with its refreshing resonance. It was a time of celebration for the peasantry and nobility alike. At this year, they would give thanks for a successful harvest, attend the yearly masses, and afterwards celebrate with song and dance. The leaves would decorate the ground with its pinkish red hue, and the entire kingdom would be glad. This year's harvest was particularly fruitful, it yielded bags upon bags of rice, meat, peppers and all types of foodstuffs. This festival, it seemed, shall be one to be remembered.

However for the King of this particular kingdom, it was one of the most nervous days of his life. The harvest would bring forth an excellent celebration, and also a very special companion.

Plain and simple, the young King was a master tactician, expert swordsman, a modest man, and too righteous for his years. His wisdom surpassed some of the most knowledgeable sages of the time, due to of course his own profound experiences. However, when it came to women, he was a clumsy oaf. He did not know what to say or how to say, however he would be marrying one very soon!

To say that he did not love his soon to be wife, would be a serious lie, but the fact that he loved her so much made it even harder on him. His trouble did not go unnoticed, as he sensed that the entire kingdom was mocking him behind his back.

Suffice to say, Lord Eliwood, was bitter.

Gazing through a large passageway at the xenith of the mighty fortress that was the kingdom of Pharae, Lord Eliwood was standing, the wind rustling through his disorganized crimson hair. He did not like the wedding one bit. Why he needed to be formally wedded in front of every peasant, noble, or baron was beyond his comprehension. He knew that his love, none other than the half dragon Ninian, would be contented with just a simple wedding by a beautiful riverside.

In fact, he was so sure of this that he tried to convince, the priest. Unfortunately, his wide eared friend, oafish in appearance but equally cunning, had overheard the matter. Eliwood's handsome features contorted in annoyance, as he remembered the actions of his lifelong friend, the soon to be King of Ostia, Hector. What was he even doing, by the side of the church? He was surprised at how well Hector knew him. What's worse was that he informed the head Paladin Marcus. He knew that he would have to follow formalities.

Eliwood stood there, gazing at the mountains over the distance, its huge mass it seemed cast an intimidating shadow all over the countryside of Pharae . He had always thought about running with Ninian to the mountains. He had assumed that the kingdom would be in an uproar with him marrying a half dragon, and the mountains in seemed, with their wide expanses, was a place of freedom. Gazing at their snow-capped peaks, the absurdity of the idea sank in.

Eliwood was not worried about what others could say, but he would never allow Ninian's integrity to be marred. He knew that her feelings were fragile after the loss of her brother Nils, and his heart ached with hers, for if one suffered, it seemed that the other was in close suit.

However, the young King's sufferings did not go unnoticed.

The head Paladin Marcus walked through the passageway, and onto the balcony. Marcus had known Eliwood all to well, starting from the days the lad knew how to crawl. Marcus taught him all there was to chivalry, swordsmanship, and taught him the Paladin's code of honour. He was one of the closest people who understood Eliwood's connection with Ninian.

Marcus walked up to Eliwood's side and placed his hand on the young lord's shoulder. He could not help let out a slight laugh. The prince was being absurd about the matter, especially his love for Ninian. Romantic love, it seemed, was something utterly new to Eliwood. The knight let out an infectious rich baritone of laughter, and Eliwood struggled to keep a straight face.

Eliwood sighed as his lifelong tutor's hand was placed on his shoulder. To say that he respected the older knight would be an understatement. However he did not understand why he pushed him into this.

"I am glad for you my friend, Ninian is an honourable woman," the old knight, who recovered from his fit of laughter, congratulated him.

"Can the formalities Marcus, no one is around," Eliwood replied with a small sigh.

"If that is what my lord Eliwood wishes, then so be it," the old knight joked.

"Well isn't it strange that the great and mighty Marcus is actually developing a sense of humour," responded Eliwood to the wit.

"My lord is perceptive," the knight replied in repose.

Eliwood rolled his eyes and knew that, his life would not become any better for the following week. It seemed that he and Ninian were destined to be embarrassed until the end of the wedding that, is until the laughing would pass.

The young lord sighed, and asked "Marcus you know that my needs were never all that demanding, neither do I have the right to make them so demanding, but why is it that I am forced into a public wedding that, it seems all the kingdom will be witness to."

"It is a king's duty to attend to formalities Eliwood, never forget that," the knight retorted.

Oh geez there he goes pushing advice into my noggin. "No it is a king's duty to love and respect his subjects, not to attend foolish formalities," Eliwood muttered to himself.

The old knight sighed. Why Eliwood could not go through this single formality really bothered him. Romantic interests were a very sensitive topic for the young prince, since he had always been a complete dolt with them. The whole matter, the more Marcus thought about it, was very new to Eliwood.

"Why I came, Eliwood, was to inform you that Lady Ninian awaits you by the castle gardens, she wants to talk to you in private," the knight explained calmly. And hopefully she can knock some sense into your stubborn head.

Eliwood's heart jumped ahead four paces. Whenever he knew that Ninian was nearby, it would yield the same effect. It seemed that the half dragon had an unbreakable hold over his heart.

Eliwood nodded, grasped his mentor's hand, and left for the castle gardens. He knew he should not keep Ninian waiting.